Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 77,406 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
77,406 number
Change on year
down 8.1%
World rank
10th
of 205 countries
All-time high
90,240 number
in 2016
All-time low
10,139 number
in 1998
Years of data
21
1998–2018

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia, 1998–2018

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k1998200820181998: 10.1k number1999: 10.5k number2000: 10.8k number2001: 11.3k number2002: 12.4k number2003: 11.6k number2004: 11.9k number2005: 12.6k number2006: 13.9k number2007: 20.2k number2008: 24.9k number2009: 31.5k number2010: 42.7k number2011: 51.7k number2012: 64.6k number2013: 75.0k number2014: 84.2k number2015: 86.2k number2016: 90.2k number2017: 84.2k number2018: 77.4k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded 77,406 number for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in 2018.

The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and up 210.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia peaked at 90,240 number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10,139 number, in 1998.

That places Saudi Arabia 10th out of 205 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia, 1998 to 2018.
Year number Change
1998 10,139 number —
1999 10,464 number +3.2%
2000 10,820 number +3.4%
2001 11,291 number +4.4%
2002 12,352 number +9.4%
2003 11,563 number -6.4%
2004 11,879 number +2.7%
2005 12,576 number +5.9%
2006 13,875 number +10.3%
2007 20,213 number +45.7%
2008 24,930 number +23.3%
2009 31,453 number +26.2%
2010 42,697 number +35.7%
2011 51,714 number +21.1%
2012 64,613 number +24.9%
2013 74,981 number +16.0%
2014 84,195 number +12.3%
2015 86,245 number +2.4%
2016 90,240 number +4.6%
2017 84,246 number -6.6%
2018 77,406 number -8.1%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 77,406 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,395 number, 7.4× the median. (75 countries reporting)
  • Saudi Arabia's 77,406 number is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26,299 number, 2.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10,302 number 10,139 number 10,464 number 2
2000s 16,095 number 10,820 number 31,453 number 10
2010s 72,926 number 42,697 number 90,240 number 9

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 7 United States 84,349 number compare
  2. 8 Kazakhstan 83,503 number compare
  3. 9 Nepal 81,917 number compare
  4. 11 Nigeria 76,338 number compare
  5. 12 Italy 75,954 number compare
  6. 13 Ukraine 72,063 number compare

See the full ranking of 250 places →

More education data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia was 77,406 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 90,240 number in 2016.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 10,139 number in 1998.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
Saudi Arabia ranks 10th out of 205 countries with data for 2018.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 210.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
250 places, 5,215 data points, 1997–2018
Last refreshed

Students who have crossed a national or territorial border for the purpose of education and are now enrolled outside their country of origin.